January 15th 2024.
Tragedy struck in Eloy, Arizona, when a hot air balloon crashed in the desert on a peaceful Sunday morning. The crash claimed the lives of four individuals, including the experienced pilot, Cornelius van der Walt, and a dedicated nurse, Katie Bartrom. Another person was critically injured and rushed to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses reported that the balloon dropped suddenly around 7:50 am, about five miles north of Eloy. The gondola, which can hold up to 13 people, was carrying eight skydivers, four passengers, and the pilot, according to Mayor Micah Powell. Thankfully, all the skydivers had already disembarked before the balloon made a hard crash landing.
Tragically, one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other three succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The only survivor remains in critical condition at a hospital in the Valley. One of the victims has been identified as 28-year-old Katie Bartrom, a registered nurse from Indiana who loved going on adventures and trying new things.
Bartrom had traveled to Arizona with some friends and was thoroughly enjoying her experience before the tragedy struck. Her mother, Jennifer Hubartt, shared that the family is struggling to come to terms with their loss. "It's kind of somber here at home. We're crying about her on and off and talking about her on and off, still trying to make it real," she told a TV station. Hubartt described her daughter as a beautiful person who recently became a registered nurse and was making a life for herself.
The pilot, Cornelius van der Walt, was identified by his friends in the skydiving community. Skydiver David Boone was shocked by the news, as van der Walt was known for his excellent piloting skills and extreme caution. "He's very, very aware of what he's doing. He's been doing it for a long, long time, and he only got better with time. He was just an excellent balloon pilot," Boone shared with ABC 15.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, and investigations are being carried out by local police, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Elroy Police Department took to Facebook to express their condolences and ask for support for the affected families during this difficult time.
Eloy, a small rural town located about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix and 50 miles northwest of Tucson, was rattled by the tragic event. This is not the first hot air balloon crash to occur in recent years, with a similar incident happening in Albuquerque in 2021, claiming five lives. Other fatal crashes have also occurred in Teotihuacan, Mexico, and Luxor, Egypt.
As the community mourns the loss of these four individuals, they also pray for the recovery of the one survivor and wait for answers about what caused this devastating crash.
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